New York – Sprint no-contract brands Boost Mobile and Virgin added the flagship Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone to their selections.
The brands didn’t offer the phone’s predecessor, the S4.
The 4G LTE phone, which incorporates Sprint Spark enhanced LTE service, is available through both brands’ channels at an unsubsidized $599.
Virgin launched the S5 today through its website and through indirect exclusive dealers and indirect select retailers. Both types of retailers sell only Virgin, Boost and Virgin’s PayLo service. Availability through authorized wireless specialty retailers that sell a variety of carrier brands starts June 2. Select Best Buy locations will launch the Virgin model on May 25, and select Radio Shack locations will offer it starting June 1.
The Boost version is available through Boost-branded stores owned and operated by independent retailers. Sales through Best Buy, RadioShack and Amazon start June 1.
The Boost phone can be paired with $40, $50 and $60 plans that all offer unlimited talk and text. The $40 plan also includes 500MB of 4G data; the $50 plans offers 2.5GB, and the $60 plan offers 5GB. Data is slowed to 2G speeds (less than 256Kbps) after the data caps are reached.
The Virgin model can also be paired with three plans at $35, $45 and $55, all with unlimited messaging and 2.5GB of high-speed LTE data, after which speeds are slowed to 2G speeds. Video speeds, however, might be limited to 3G speeds. The first plan offers 300 anytime voice minutes, and the second offer 1,200 minutes. The top plans offers unlimited calling.
